TROTTING CLUBS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 247, 13 July 1921, Page 9

TROTTING CLUBS

CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES A SUCCESSFUL YEAR CONTROL OF RACING / The annual conference of representatives of trotting clubs registered with the New Zealand Trotting Association was held yesterday in the Accountants’ Chambers. The president (Mr. John Bowe, of Auckland) was in the chair, and there was a representative attendance of delegates. President’s Address. Addressing the conference, the president referred to the appointment of a Boyal Commission to consider the question of an increase of totallsator licenses. The report was not yet to hand, but he felt sure that it would do tardy, but wellmerited justice, to the association’s claim for increased days of trotting. When the matter was under discussion in the shane of Sir George Hunter’s Bill, the voting clearly showed that their cliams were reorganised. "There have been," he continued. “quite a number of new clubs formed in prosperous and populous districts, in the hope of obtaining the permit necessary to enable them to put forward strong programmes, and so encourage the Breeding Industry in areas in which it has only started, and in which it is likely to languish without some local trying ground for the stock produced. There are, m all, at present, twelve strong clubs which have raced this season without totalisator license; I trust that I will hot be able to say tnw same when the next conference comes round.” Discussing the . question of an extension to the stipendiary system. Mr. Bowe said: “Our present stipendiaries have done splendid work, but, as you are no dount aware, in parts of the Commonwealth the stipendiaries take complete charge of the racing, and I understand that it has been found very satisfactory. The element of . expense has been advanced against this method' of control, but as trotting is going ahead in the Dominion, I think that would bo the minor consideration, the greater consideration being the practical eliminating of the personal interest, of the fine body of honorary officials, who give their time to the sport as stewards. Highly Satisfactory Year. The president went on to state that during the season the general conduct of licensed trainers and drivers had been excellent, and the general standard of their work was improving rapidly. There had been several cases of accidents just prior to the start of races which prevented the horses taking part in the contest. The cases were of a similar nature, but they occurred at tho meetings of difierent clubs As the clubs desired to return the money a little friction, arose with the Government totallsator inspector in some instances, as this was a matter of considerable Importance It might be advisable that the executive should discuss It with the Government authorities so that a proper understanding on the point might be arrived at. Judging by the tabulated figures proposed by the secretary the years operations under all heads had been highly satisfactory. Prize money distributed amounted to a sum of £38,C00 In excess of that .given during the previous season. Referring to the question of a uniform system of starting, Mr. Row said that while he did not think there should bo drastic compulsion front either Hide, he considered it wa» time that it shoud be thoroughly discussed with a view to arriving at an amicable solution of the difficulty. They were having It more and more brought home to them by the size of the fields that were competing In the various events that It was becoming a physlaal impossibility for a startei. to see that all horses got away, to their various bells on the time system. that being ths case, they must «n, the interest of the owners and the public see that either the time system of starting was Improvedor some other nystom adopted, otherwise they -were golngr to seriously injur© the OP Two proposals would, ho continued, com.- before the conference seeking to deprive the association of the right to participate in tho work of legislation. He had no doubt that these would receive short shrift. The association was tn the beat position to find how the rules were working, and he thought it would be. illadvised to prevent that body from bringing forwxrd any matter wk>.+ ’n Its opinion wa‘. ia tho Interest of the sport. There was a suggestion to increase the number of members constituting the association. This 'was a matter which should be approached very carefully. There was a danger of creating too «umbersome a body which, combined witn possibility of very largely increased travexpenses, should cause delegates to think twice before making tha alteration. Alteration to Rules. On behalf of tho New Brighton Olnb. M» WKenntv moved to alter rule is, which read:—“No member of the assoctu/ tion shall bo eligible to be elected a representative to act at Hie conference or to act as a substitute fot a representative, but the president of the association (ex-officio) shall be entitled to a seat, and shall be deemed to be and have the sama powers as and rights of a representative. Mr. M’Kenna's proposal - was to delete nil the words after "representative where it occurs in the second Una. He stated that the alteration would be for the good of trettiui*. * . . , . Mr. E. Fox (N.Z. Metropolitan) seconded th Mr m (preaident of the TvotHug Association) opposed tho motion, holding that it would involve a retrograde step. The motion was defeated. On the motion of the New Zealand Trotting Association it was decided to add tliefollowing to rule 83:— Subject. to fevaurable legal opinion being obtained, should a club warn off its course any person considered tlndeslr jble such c.nb shall immediately notify the association of the full name, address, and occupation of such per ion and the date he was warned off. and therefrom tho association shall notify ail registered clubs of such warning on Several other proposals to amend the rules worn lost on a division, including the following :—"Whenever «. handicapper Is unable to attend a race meeting the Rte wards shall appoint a substitute for the purposes of rehandicapping. Mr. R. Wallace (Canterbury) moved an alteration to rule 145, which read:—Two-vear-olds shall not trot in any race prior to October 1. nor in any race over a distance exceeding one mile prior to April 1. nor In. any case exceeding mile- from April 1 to August 1. Mr. Wallace’s proposal was to delete all the words after "mile." and to add the .folowing:—"From October 1 to August 1. Mr. Selig said, ho war instructed by the association to oppose the motion. Ina present rule had, he stated, been adopted only after mature consideration. and from a sporting point of view it operated very favourably. Other speakers spoke against the proposal, which was finally rejected. Mr. Selig moved, on behalf of the Trotting Association, that the following new rule he ailed:—“The owner of a registered trotting horse shall, within fourteen days of tho death of such horse, notify the association thereof, and any owner falling to do so shall be liable to the penalties prescribed in thlc rule for nnv notifying the sale of a horse.’ , The motion was seconded by Mr. .Is. rox (Metropolitan), and carried after a brief discussion. , , . . Rule 220 relating to tho registration of trainers. riders. and drivers was amended ly Inserting a provision that no club shall issue a license to ride to a person under the age. of 16 years, or to drive to n. person under the age of 18 years. Boating tho Bolls The rule governing penalties for riders or drivers beating the bell in a race was altered by inserting provision for a penalty of "not less than £5 and not more On. the motion of Mr. Fox (Metropolitan!. •Aoonded by Mr. Wallace (Canterbury), ft was resolved to delete rule 118 and substitute the following—" Nothing in these rules shall be deemed to prevent any club inserting in its programme a condition: (a) That placed horses in any class may be nominated for a higher class nt the meeting; (b) that horses entered at the meeting may be renominated for a, race on the second nr subsequent days of tho meeting, provided that such horses have put up a placed performance at the meeting named in such condition alter the date on which nosilpations have closed. Any horses nominated or renominated under these conditions shall bo deemed to bo properly nominated. doin'nations or renominationa under tho apwvo conditions may be made at. any time up to half an hour after tho finish of the last race on the first, second, or third or last day but one of ffucn meeting-/ A divergence of opinion was aiaclonea when a motion was moved on behalf or the Trotting Association to add the following new rule: —“Tn-.all handicap events the allowance shall b* made by yards and not by a time allowance, and all races shall be started in’ accordance with the handicap ho made-” In support of the motion, it was urged that the yard svstejn was in operation in Auckland, where' its success was unquestioned. A uniform starting system was required throughout the Dominion. The oppniinib of th? proposal held that the matter should be left to the discretion of individual clubs as at present. In. Christchurch the seconds system gave every satisfaction. , . Wheq R came to the division, the moHo ii was lost by 15 votes to 11. Officers Elected. Officers for the ensuing year were elected aa follow:—President, Mr. John Rowe (Auckland), unanimously re-elected; vicepresident, Mb. D. JJ.. Roberts (XJreymoutli);

executive, Messrs. Tj. Coheti (Wanganui), E. Fox (Christchurch), and J. IL Finney (Nelson); treasurer, Mr. E. Fox (Christchurch,; members of the executive were constituted the Dates Committee. Opportunity was taken by the president to congratulate clubs on their good government of the sport and their management generally.